Chapter III: On the Extrinsic Adjuncts of Hearing Confession

— I. Concerning the place. 1. The proper place of confessions is a church or at least a semi-public oratory (c. 908).

Nevertheless, the confessions of men can also be heard in private houses (c. 910, §2).

It sometimes happens that, even for women, for example nuns, another place, on account of a just cause, has legitimately been designated, for example an open sacristy or a room contiguous to an oratory. The determination of the Ordinary can be adhered to. The case is indirectly foreseen by c. 909, §1 itself.

2. "The confessional seat for hearing the confessions of women is always to be placed in an open and conspicuous place, and generally in a church or public or semi-public oratory destined for women.

"The confessional seat is to be furnished with a fixed grate, finely perforated, between penitent and confessor" (c. 909).

3. "The confessions of women are not to be heard outside the confessional seat unless from cause of infirmity or another true necessity, and with the safeguards which the local Ordinary will have indicated as opportune" (c. 910, §1).

Therefore diocesan ordinances are to be consulted. They judge it grave of itself, necessity excluded, to hear the confessions of women outside the confessional seat or without a grate interposed; to hear them in a place not open does not of itself exceed venial sin.

From the response of November 24, 1920, of the Pontifical Commission of the Code, even the confessions of men, when they are heard in a church or public oratory, are not of themselves to be heard outside such a seat. Yet it is clear that this is a light prohibition. A special seat came into use after the thirteenth century.

— II. Concerning the vestment to be used. The vestment to be used of itself is a surplice and a violet stole.

Nevertheless the Ritual adds: "according as time or the custom of places bears." But on August 20, 1628, the Sacred Congregation of Rites declared "that a bishop can compel secular priests to hear confessions with cotta [surplice] and stole, and regulars with stole only."

Having been asked about tolerating a custom of using nothing except a stole or nothing except a surplice, the Sacred Congregation of Rites, March 23, 1882, ad 3, responded: "Let the Roman Ritual be observed" (Decr. auth., n. 3542). The same response was given to a sufficiently similar question on July 7, 1877, ad IV (Decr. auth., n. 3426). But on August 31, 1867, ad II, it responded: "It is fitting that in church the stole be used, according to the decrees of the Sacred Congregation of Rites" (Decr. auth., n. 3658).

Therefore a rubric of this kind is directive, yet not therefore to be neglected.

— III. Concerning the time. Confessions can be heard on every day and hour; yet care must be taken that they are not heard in darkness.

— The place proper for hearing confessions is a church or at least a semi-public oratory; and, in a church, even for men, a confessional seat. On account of a just cause, another place, open and conspicuous, with the Ordinary approving, can be deputed. Men can also be heard outside sacred buildings.

The confessional seat is to be furnished with a fixed and finely perforated grate. Women (c. 909, §2), outside a cause of necessity, are to be heard only in that seat. Wherefore they judge it grave to hear them without a grate interposed. And diocesan ordinances, in this matter, are to be observed by all.

II. From the directive rubric, in church a surplice and stole, or at least a stole, is to be used.

III. On every day and hour, though not in darkness, confessions can be heard.